Process and apparatus for drying artificial silk



A. J. L. MORITZ 2,074,232

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL SILK March 16, 1937.

Filed July 25, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March- 16, 1937. A. J. 1.. MORITZ 2,074,232

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL SILK Filed July 25, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2- I IJHI WIIIIIIIIIII W llllll Maich-lfi, 1937. MQRITZ 2,074,232

PROCESs AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL SILK Fil ed July 25, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 llll llllllllllll III! "III lllllllllllllll-lllli llllllllllllli-lllllll llllllllllll-llll lllllllllllllllllllll r lllllllllllw HIIMIIIIIIIIIIQL March 16,1937. A. J. L: MORITZ 2,074,232

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL SILK Filed July 25, 1934 4 ShGGtS-ShQGt 4 Patented Mar. 16, 1937 .PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING.

ARTIFICIAL SILK Adrian J. L. Moritz, Erika, N. 0., assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application July 25,- 1934, SerialNo. 736,935

13 Claims.

This invention relates to the drying of artificial silk and the like in package form, and more particularly to'a process of and an apparatus for drying unsupported packages of artificial silk in such manner as to cause the yarn to have uniform characteristics throughout the respective packages.

In the past, it has been the practice to subject freshly spun packages of artificial silk to washing and other similar wet treating processes while in package form. Subsequent to the wettreatment of the packages they were dried, and according to the older procedures during the drying the packages were retained in the spinning pots or on bobbins, or as an alternative the packages were placed on drying supports such as the supports employed when drying skeins of artificial silk. Another of the heretofore used methods of dryingthe packages involved the flattening of.

the cakes together and the placing of such cakes onto drying frames. In all of these past modes of operation the drying progressed throughout the bodies of the packages in substantially all dimotions and such drying of packages of artificial silk, when produced by the usual methods of spinning, resulted in he yarns indifferent portions of the packages istics.

Referring more particularly to the pot spinning 30 process, that is; the process in which artificial silk filaments are extruded from spinnerets and collected in high speed rotating pots, the. filaments are collected or as generally termed spun into the pots by means of the centrifugal force developed by the rotary speed of the spinning pots. Upon completion of the spinning periods, the steps, generally followed during the subsequent treatment of. the cakes, involve the removal of the cakes from the pots and the placing of the same in suitable boxes after which they are transfered, while in the boxes, to humidifying chambers for the purpose of conditioning the same. After the humidfying operation, the cakes are removed from the boxes and 'are tied or laced in ossessing different charactertype illustrated in United States patent to Engel,

No. 1,957,328 are especially adaptable for this purpose.

Cakes treated in the aforementioned manner are now ready for the drying stage and it' has been up tothe present time, the general practice to employ at this stage the standard step which such manner as to prevent tangling or breaking involves hanging the cakes on carriers such as aluminum bars or rods and then placing the cakes thus supported in large so-called tunnel dryers.

These tunnel dryers are very large and expensive metallic structures and therefore the use of the 5 same is objectionable since the capacity of the dryers does not warrant the large expense involved. Furthermore, when the cakes are dried in such manner, the drying as above stated takes place substantially in all directions. 7

One decided disadvantage encountered in the use of a method of drying artificial silk cakes, as above referred to is that the yarn in the dried packages does not possess uniform dye absorptive characteristics. uniform dyeing is attributable to the variable contraction occurring throughout the yarn body of the respective packages. When a drying medium is permitted to contact with an unsupported package of artificial silk from all directions, the outer layers of the package cannot contract to the same extent as the inner layers thereof since the outer layers cannot shrink freely due to the interior of the package being still moist, and more or less rigid, with the result that the filaments or thread of the outer layers meet substantial re-- sistance from the inner layers.

This invention therefore, has as an object the provision of a method of. overcoming the above stated difficulties, and the invention contemplates 30 the provision of an improved apparatus for conveniently carrying out the same. I

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a drying apparatus for artificial silk wherein the drying action progresses within the artificial silk packagesionly from the inside to the outside thereof. I

The invention still further contemplates an apparatus in which the ordinary cake supporting boxes are positioned in contact vertically one above the-other and are then placed bodily in position in connection with the remainder of,.the drying apparatus, whereby the sides of the cake boxes serve to function as sections which collectively form a drying chamber.

An additional object of this invention is provision of an apparatus having relatively light weight sectional drying chambers whereby they are readily portable.

' Other advantages and objects will be apparent from the following detailed description, and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 3;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewshowing the built-in air heating and circulating system with The reason for this non- 15 its full capacity of portable sectional drying colunms formed of the cake boxes arranged in operative position,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown 5 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an end view of the apparatus opposite to that shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 illustrates a series of cake boxes formed 15 into a drying column,

Fig. 8 illustrates a complete set of cake boxes mounted on a. transporting jack truck by which the filled columns may be moved into or out of the operative position with respect to the remainder 20 ofthe drying system,

. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the platforms provided for use with each two columns of cake boxes,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the doors 25 used in conjunction with each platform supporting a set of outer columns of cake boxes,

Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional view showing the manner in'which a door is secured to an outer platform, and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed sectional view through a portion of one of the drying columns.

Now referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral l designates a conventional type air heating unit which may be formed with a plurality of tubesfor conducting steam or other heating fluid. Thetemperature and volume of the heating medium is subject to control and is preferably controlled automatically in order that the air to be utilized as the drying medium may be heated to the desired degree notwithstanding any change in the volume of the air being passed through the system.

The air is caused to be passed through the heating unit ID by means of a fan ll arranged in fan casing I 2, and the fan may be operated by any well known power means (not shown) As the fan is operated the air will be drawn into the fan casing l2 and will then be forced from the casing through a conduit l3, after which it will be forced through the heating unit and will be heated to the desired extent. The air current produced by the fan causes the air to flow from the heating unit into an overhead duct [4 which is formed with a decreasing cross section as shown in Fig. 1, and which duct is further formed with a plurality of similarly. constructed ofitakes or branch pipes l5.

Although each of the branch pipes I is of the same sizeand is arranged progressively along the duct I as the duct is decreased in cross section so that there is a tendency for the air flowing into the duct to be equally divided between, the branch pipes I5, each branch pipe, nevertheless, is provided with a valve or damper l6 which provides for the control of the passage of air therethrough.

Branch pipes I5 are each provided with a series of outlet fittings ll each of which has extending l thereform an accordion type flexible connection l8 and a conical hood I9. These conical hoods l9 are adapted to be raised or lowered due to the extending or contracting of the respective connections l8, and when lowered they are each "adapted to engage with one of a series of sectional 76 drying chambers indicated generally at 20, the

construction of which chambers will be hereafter fully described.

As shown in Fig. 5, transversely arranged rows of chambers are positioned so that the chambers of each row have their lower ends communicating and each of the communicating passageways opens into one of a series of extensions 2! provided on a return duct 22. The return duct is formed with a gradually increasing cross-section in the direction of the fan casing l2 and it is provided at its largest end 23 with a. connecting conduit-24 which opens centrally into fan casing l2.

A discharge pipe 25 is connected to the conduit l3 while a fresh air inlet 26 is connected into the end 23 of return duct 22. Valves or dampers 21 and 28 are arranged to control the passage of air. through the discharge pipe 25 and inlet 26 respectively and these valves are arranged for simultaneous operation by means of a rod 29 which connects the operative handles 30 and 3| of the valves.

In operating the drying system as thus far described, the air heating unit I 0 is first rendered eifective by the passage of the heating fluid through the tubes therein and the fan is caused to be rotated whereupon the air in the system is caused to be circulated first through the heating unit and then in its heated condition, into the duct M. The heated air in duct I4 is divided and portions thereof are passed through the branch pipes l5. Heated air passing in each branch pipe becomes further divided and a portion of the air is passed through each of the connections l8 and through the drying chambers 20. The separate portions of air as they pass from each transverse row of drying chambers are collected and passed into the return duct 22 where the air from the various transverse rows of chambers is intermingled and drawn to the fan casing I2 forrecirculation. In order to keep the system efficient even after long periods of usage, some of the moisture ladened air is caused to be discharged through the outlet pipe 25 and due to the setting of the valves 21 and 28, an equal amount of fresh air is drawn into the system.

The condition of the cakes of yarn being dried can be readily determined by raising a cover at the top of a chamber in any of the trans verse rows and, should it be determined that the drying of the cakes in the different transverse rows of chambers is not proceeding regularly with respect to otherrows, this can be compensated for by a manipulation of one or more of the valves I 6.

While the system has been described with the air circulating therein in such manner that the heated air flows downwardly in the sectional chambers 20, it is to be understood that the operation may be reversed so that an up draft will be had in the respective chambers. In such an operation the pipe 25 would act as an inlet pipe while air would be discharged from the opening 26 when the respective valves 21 and 28 are open.

The construction of the drying chambers 20, and the steps involved in the handling of the cakes of artificial silk yarn are important features of this invention and in order to give an example of one detailed form of the construction and of a detailed method of procedure, reference will be had to the drawings. Each chamber 20 is made up of a number oftrays 32 which, in the form shown, are oblong. Trays 32 each have side walls 33 which are preferably con- Mil structed of wood or some other relatively, light and inexpensive material resistant to heat conduction. A frame 34 of angled metal, preferably of a type which does not corrode, is secured to'the lower edges of the side walls 33 of each tray in such manner as to cause the frame to project below the side walls, as indicated at 35,

i with the angled webs thereof forming a. ledge 36'. Mounted on the ledge 36 is a bottom 31! lOpreferably formed of pressed fiber board, said bottom 31 being provided with a series of equally spaced openings 38. One opening 38 is provided for each cake of yarn to be dried and in the specific form shown each tray 32 is constructed to 1 hold twelve cakes. A cover 39 is provided for each tray and the cover may be formed like the bottom 31. of pressed fiber board. The covers 39 are formed of substantially the same size as the bottoms 3i and they are also provided with openings 40 of the same size as the openings in the bottom. Covers 39 are adapted to be placed upon the cakes of yarn when they have been arranged, within the trays and as the openings 38 and 40 are in registry when a tray and its cover are assembled, and, since the openings in each are spaced so that each tray will accommodate twelve cakes with their center openings coaxial with the openings 38 and 40, each filled tray and cover assembly will have twelve confined passageways therethrough.

Due to the projection of the frames 34 below the walls 33 of the respective trays 32, each frame acts as an aligning and retaining member for holding its tray in position upon a lower tray since each frame 34 will be partially received within the walls of a lower tray above its cover 39. When a number of filled trays 32 are I stacked one upon another in the manner just described, they form a drying chamber haying twelve channels therethrough which channels are largely defined by the interior walls of the cakes of yarn.

In order to permit of the assembly of filled trays into complete drying chambers in such form that they can be readily transported and incorporated into the drying system having the heated air circulated therethroughby the fan ll, as above described, the lowermost tray 32 of each stack is placed on a platform 4B which is adapted to rest directly upon the floor of the assembly room. The platform has wooden sides 42 which are of such length that the platform provides a base for two of the stacks of. trays. Bars 43 are arranged at the ends of the platform and bar 44 of greater width is arranged at the center of the same. The center bar 44 is mounted on webs of angle bars 45 which are secured to the sides 42, and the end bars 43 are reinforced with angle bars. At each corner angle bars 46 are provided, and longitudinal angle bars 41 extend throughoutthe length of each platform. to provide reinforcements for permitting a platform with two stacks of trays arranged thereon to be elevated and transported by means of a jack truck 48 of the usual well known construction. I

After a platform 4| has had two stacksof r filled trays 32 arranged thereon a conical cover 49 is positioned on each stack of trays with its flange 50 being received within the walls 33 of the uppermost tray. The jack truck 48 is then moved form will be in communication with a duct extension 2| on the return duct 22. Furthermore,

the alignment strips 52 will cause the end of the platform to abut evenly against the board 51 so that a prohibitive amount of heated air will not escape at this joint during the operation of the system.

After the loaded platform has been lowered into position the truck 48 is withdrawn and returned to the assembly zone for transporting anotherloaded platform. During this period the conical hoods I9 are lowered into position upon the conical covers 49 and a reasonably tight joint is produced. The next loaded platform is then positioned in front of the platform first transported, and the second platform is lowered into the position between the same alignment strips 52 with its inner open end abutting the end of the first platform. The joint between the ends of the two platforms is also reasonably airtight due to the manner of abutting the ends. Hoods ware now lowered over the conical covers on the stacks of the second mentioned platform.

Since the second mentioned or forward platform is now open at its outer end, a door 53 is abutted against the angle bars 46 and latch members 54, having operating handles 55, are turned into a position so as to clamp over the webs of the respective angle bars 46 for holding the door in closed position. With the door 53 in position the arrangement as described results in the formation of one transverse row of sectional drying chambers 20 above referred to in connection with the description of the general drying system. The remaining transverse rows of drying chambers may now be formed and placed in position in the manner described in connection with the first transverse row of chambers.

When each of the stacks of trays or chambers are in position, the hoods l9 lowered, and the doors 53 are all in place, .the heating unit I0 is caused to be operated and the fan H is rotated whereupon the air is passed through the heating unit and into the duct Ml. The heated air is then divided as described above and, as a division of the heated air passes into each stack of filled trays comprising a drying chamber 20, the division of air is distributed by the stack 'cover 49 so that further divided currents of the air are caused to pass through openings 40 in the cover 39 arranged in the uppermost tray of the stack. In the specific apparatus illustrated a current of heated air will pass through each of the twelve openings 4G and, as this heated air passes through the openings, it contacts with the interior layers of thread -in the respective cakes. Since the interiors of the cakes are thread free, the air after taking up some of the moisture from each cake passes through the respective openings 38 in the tray bottom 37. In the space between the bottom 31 of the upper tray and the cover 39 of the next lower tray, the several currents of air become somewhat intermingled, but the air is again divided and separate currents thereof pass downwardly through the openings in under the platform with its elevating mechanism ethe cover of said next lower tray and through extending under the angle bars 41. Raising of the platform 4! and the load thereon is then ef- 7 5- fected by manipulation of the jack truck and the the thread free centers of the cakes in the tray whereupon they then pass through the openings in the bottom of the tray and become somewhat collected air currents are now drawn into the return duct 22 in which the air becomes further intermingled with the air being returned from other tranverse rows of dryingchambers. The collected air is recirculated through the system and, when necessary, a portion thereof is discharged from the system and replaced by a fresh portion of air in accordance with the operation specifically referred to above.

During the drying of cakes of artificial silk thread in the respective sectional columns 20 a contraction of each cake takes place with the result that the respective covers 38 settle within the respective trays and thereby maintain the spaces in the trays which surround the cakes substantially free of air currents whereby the drying action within each cake takes place progressively from the inside to the outside thereof.

Due to the lack of air currents in contact with the exteriors of the cakes, the moisture as it is removed from the cakes is largely withdrawn through the interior layers of threads. Such a drying operation causes the interior layers of threads in the cakes to first contract as the drying proceeds, and the contraction takes place progressively toward the outside of the cakes whereby by the initial contraction of the inner layers of threads resistance to contraction of the outside layersis avoided.

After the drying operation has proceeded to the desired extent the operation of the system may be discontinued, the doors 53 removed from the front platforms, and the hoods l9 raised after which a truck 48 may be placed into position under a desired platform, and the platform with the stacked trays thereon may-be removed with the truck to the place used for the unloading of the dried cakes from the trays. This procedure may be continued until all of the trays are emptied and another operation may be started by the refilling of the trays with wet cakes and the placing of the trays in operative position and starting the system. It will be readily understood that should it be desired the system may be operated for drying cakes in any selected number of transverse rows of drying chamberswhile other chambers are being placed in position or are being removed from the system. Such an operation can be carried out by utilization of the dampers or valves IS in the respective branch pipes l5.

What I claim is:

1. A method of drying cakes of artificial silk thread and the like to cause the thread therein to have uniform drying from the inside to the outside thereof which comprises arranging cakes of artificial silk in trays, positioning the trays one upon another to form a substantially air tight stack, passing separate currents of drying gas through the thread free interiors of cakes arranged in one of the trays, commingling the gas of said currents to assure substantial uniformity of moisture content of the gas, dividing the body of commingled gas, passing the divisionsof gas as separate currents through the thread free interiors of the stacked cakes in adjacent trays, and maintaining the air in contact with the exterior of the cakes substantially quiescent and in a confined state whereby drying proceeds through the body of the cakes by permeation of the said heated gas only.

2. A portable sectional drying chamber for textile cakes and the like adapted to be incorporated in a drying system comprising a series of separable trays each adapted to support a plurality of textile cakes, openings in the bottoms of the trays adapted to communicate with the thread free interiors of the respective cakes, a cover for each tray freely movable-therein and adapted to be supported by the respective cakes, said covers each being provided with openings registering with corresponding openings in the tray bottom, said trays being arranged one upon another to form a stack, and independent means for maintaining the trays in the stacked position.

3. A portable sectional drying chamber for textile cakes and the like adapted to be incorporated in a drying system comprising a series of trays each adapted to support a plurality of textile cakes, openings in the bottoms of the trays adapted to communicate with the thread free in, teriors of the respective cakes, a cover for each tray freely movable therein and adapted to be supported by the respective cakes, said covers each being provided with openings registering with corresponding openings in the tray bottom,

said trays being adapted to be arranged one upon another to form a stack with spaces existing between the respective covers and the next adjacent tray to form zones to permit intermingling of currents of drying medium after passage thereof through the interiors of cakes adjacent said spaces, means for maintaining the trays in the stacked position, and a hood fitting into the uppermost tray of the stack 'above the cover for said tray, said hood being reduced at its upper end to-a conduit adapted for connection to the system.

4. A portable sectional drying chamber for textile cakes and the like adapted to be incorporated in a drying system comprising a series of trays each adapted to support a plurality of textile cakes, openings in the bottoms of the trays adapted to communicate with the thread free interiors of the respective cakes, a cover for each tray adapted to be supported by the respective cakes andprovided with openings registering with each opening in the tray bottom, said trays being arranged one upon another to form a stack, and means on each tray for supporting the bottom thereof, said supporting means extending below the side walls of the tray and into the next adjacent lower tray for maintaining the trays in stacked condition.

5. A portable sectional drying chamber for textile cakes and the like adapted to be incorporated in a drying system comprising a series of trays each adapted to support a plurality of textile cakes, openings in the bottoms of the trays adapted to communicate with the thread free interiors of the respective cakes, a cover for each tray adapted to be supported by the respective cakes and provided with openings registering with each opening in the tray bottom, said trays being arranged one'upon another to form a stack, means on' each tray for supporting the bottom thereof, said supporting means extending below the side walls of the tray and into the next adjacent lower tray for maintaining the trays in stacked condition, and a hood for the stack fitting into the uppermost tray above the cover thereof and provided with a reduced passageway at its upper portion to permit connection of the stack to the drying system.

6. A retaining tray for cakes of artificial silk and the like capable of functioning as a section of sectional drying chambers comprising side walls, a bottom provided with a series of substantially equally spaced openings, and a cover closely fitting within the side walls and freely movable toward and away from the bottom, said cover being provided with openings in, registry with the openings in the bottom, thereby forming a space for the reception of cakes of artificial silk to be positioned in the tray with the thread free interiors thereof in communication with the openings in the bottom, and the cover contacted with the cakes whereby access to the interiors of the cakes will be had to permit the passage of drying gas therethrough.

'7. A retaining tray for cakes of artificial silk and the like capable of functioning as a section of sectional drying chambers comprising side walls, a bottom provided with a series of substantially equally spaced openings, a support for the bottom which extends downwardly as a flange below the lower edges of the side walls so as to form a substantially tight fit with another tray when placed thereon with the support extending thereinto, and a cover fitting within the side walls and freely movable toward and away from the bottom, said cover being provided with openings in registry with the, openings in the bottom whereby when cakes of artificial silk are positioned in the tray with the thread free interiors thereof in communication with 'the openings in the bottom and the cover is'contacted with the cakes, access tothe interiors of the cakes will be had to permit the passage of drying gas therethrough.

8. A portable drying section for cakes of artificial silk and the like adapted to be incorporated in a drying system comprising platforms abutted together and provided with communicated openings in the walls thereof, said platforms having adjacent openings in their upper walls and having their remote walls respectively when in abutted relation provided with a removable section and an opening for permitting communication with a duct of a drying system, a plurality of substantially gas tight stacks of trays mounted on each platform with the lowermost tray of each stack being positioned over one of the openings in the upper walls of the platforms, the trays of each stack being formed with bottoms having openings therein and being constructed to receive artificial silk cakes with the thread free interiors thereof in communication with the openings in the tray bottoms, and a 'hood mounted on the top of each stack, each of the hoods being provided with a reduced portion adapted for connection to a drying system.

9. A portable drying unit for cakes of artificial silk and the like adapted to be incorporatedin a drying system comprising a platform having an opening through the center.

thereof and two adjacent openings in its top, stacks of trays mounted on the platform with the lowermost tray of each stack being positioned over one of the openings in the top of the platform, the trays of each stack being formed with bottoms having a plurality of openings therein, means for retaining the trays in the stacks and for rendering the joints between the trays substantially gas-tight, said trays being constructed to receive artificial silk cakes with the thread free interiors thereof in communication with the openings in the tray bottoms, and a hood mounted on the top of each stack, each of the hoods being provided with a reduced portion adapted for connection to a drying system.

10. A drying system for cakes of artificial silk and the like comprising a fixed section including a delivery duct for drying gas, a return duct for the drying gas, means for heating the gas passed to the delivery duct, branch pipes connected to the delivery .duct, a plurality of bodily-movable sectional drying chambers ar ranged between outlets on the branch pipes and the return duct, valves for controlling the passage of gas through the respective branch pipes, said sectional drying chambers being formed of substantially gas tight stacked trays, each of which trays is constructed to retain a plurality of cakes of artificial silk in a manner to cause the drying gas when conducted through the chambers to contact with the cake surfaces defining the thread free interiors thereof while substantially preventing contact of the gas with the exterior surfaces of the cakes, and a cover within each tray mounted to provide a space between it and the next adjacent trayto permit the commingling of the currents of drying gas after the gas has passed through cakes of artificial silk in one tray and before the gas is further-divided and passed through cakes of artificial silk in another tray.

11. A drying system' according to claim 10 which further comprises means for flexibly and detachably connecting the uppermost tray of each stack to the branch pipes of the delivery duct. v

12. A drying system according to claim 10 which further comprises means for forming an air tight juncture between the inlets and outlets of the heated drying gas and the stacks of cakes to be dried. Q

13. A method of drying artificial silk thread and the like in cake form to cause the thread therein to be uniformly dried from the inside to tially a quiescent condition whereby initial drying of the exterior of the cakes is substantially eliminated and the cakes are dried progressively from the interiors to the exteriors thereof.

ADRIAN J. L. Mom. 

